Electrolux Model XXX Questions

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Hi Kevin.

Here's the tool you opened this thread with. It was used with the later version of the model XXX, and was kept in production with the LX and LXI. As you can see, it could be flipped over and used much like a Mr. Clean magic eraser. During the war, the top was given a green/gray plastic top, and was used with the LX.

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Hi Alex, Thank you for your responses and posting the patents. They are very interesting. If you have pics that go along with them that would be helpful...especially the flip over tools. I didn't know about the model XX, so that was also revealing.

I will assume that in the first three pics I posted in this thread that they go in order from oldest to newest versions like this: 3,1,2. I am also assuming that they are the only versions. Please let me know otherwise.

Along with the information you provided, I am interested in colors. For example are the dusting brushes with the blue/cream and white/cream (reversed) both for the model S? That's what it seems like to me unless the colors didn't reproduce well in the pics. As for the model XXX dusting brushes do you know which is older, the white or the green? Did they go back to the metal ones after the war, or did they stay with the plastic? Was there anything unique to the bristles from different eras (color, thickness...)?

I was also wondering the history of the white brush attachments. When were they first designed and when did Electrolux stop manufacturing them? Did they also come in different styles?

One more thing. Were the attachments for the uprights the same as the tanks?
 
Hi Kevin.

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of these tools, that's why I sent you to the thread started by powermate1970. If you haven't looked at the entire thread, you should, because it has all kinds of pictures, as well as beautiful machines.


 


Yes the patents are in the correct order of production, and I will post other tools and accessories later tonight.


 


When Electrolux opened it's factory in Old Greenwich, Connecticut in 1933, there was a skeleton crew that came to America from Sweden (where Electrolux was founded) and helped start the new company. One of the key people was Gustaf E. Lofgren. And while I don't know a lot about him, he was the man who designed the tools. Gustaf, and his engineers perfected the basic tools out of polished aluminum, and the only changes wer the rubber trim matched the leatherette of the XII, XXX and so on. The big changes came around 1955, with the introduction of the model E, and that ushered in the various colors to the combination tools.


 


And speaking of changes, it was 1948 when Electrolux introduced a whole line of attachments and devices like the Cord winder, Companion, Polisher, and Garment Aire bag, as well as special tools like the white bristle wall brush, and white bristle dusting brush. In this case, only the brushes changed. Sometime after the introduction of the E automatic, tools acquired the plastic shell. My history stops with the last of the LX's, and either Charles Richard Lester or Tom Gasko (perhaps both) should respond to that as they are far more knowledgeable.


 


Pictured here is the basic bare floor brush that went with the model XII (rubber trim was milk chocolate brown), and the tool stayed in production to the last of the LXI's.

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And here's an overview of all the rug/floor tools from 1924-56 that I know of, plus one from the tan Model G because it was the first to eliminate the on-off gleaner bar. Also note the re-design of the rug-side with the long air channels on either side of the swivel connector, which was introduced with the last version of the Model F.

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Hi Charles Richard.

Thank you for adding your input. I'm scanning pages from the Electrolux patent folder that I shared with you back in days gone bye. My idea is to give Kevin the dates these patents were filed and granted, then he can take it from there. As always when in doubt, I refer to you.


 


Bob Alex.
 
Hi Kevin.

You have indicated interest in the combination rug/floor tool introduced with the model E. Again, there is some confusion here. Both Electrolux and General Electric used the same basic style. The confusion is which came out first. While G.E. simply had the user flip the tool over, Electrolux required the user to remove the swivel connector first. Here are four patents Electrolux got in the 1960's. 

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Hi Kevin.

When it comes to the power polisher attachment that was introduced with the 1947/48 version of the model XXX shown here, the undisputed expert is my friend Charles Richard Lester. He loves that tool almost as much as I love the model LX, and I mean in it's purest form with the yellow nameplate with "Electrolux" in red lettering! When Charles and I first talked the V.C.C.C. was in a holding pattern due to a lack of inactivity. For years John Lucia and I had begged our handful of members to send us information to use in the newsletter, but that fell on deaf ears. This was the darkest moment, because I thought seriously of letting the club die on the vine. Enter Charles Richard with a questioner on the vacuum cleaner, and my interest was piqued. Both Charles Richard, and John Lucia urged me to keep the club alive, but it was Charles who pumped new blood into it, thus saving it's life! That was way back in the fall of 1992, and in May of 93, the club was thriving.


 


In addition to the power polisher, which is not to be confused with the full sized B-6, (?) used as a polisher/buffer/carpet washer, this was an air powered tool that was sold with the XXX, LX, and LXI. It was changed slightly when the model E was introduced and became the forerunner of the Electrolux Rug Washer introduced a few years later. As for the 'Turbo tools' I will again defer to Charles Richard, as he's the expert in that too. But for now, here are those patents to give you the dates filed and when the patent was granted.


 

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Electolux XXX questions

Charlie,
That one rug tool you have unknown marked on your picture looks like the one that came with my family's model XX they bought in 1940.
Neither the rug tool or the floor brush swiveled and the fuller brush top was finished like the machine in the same finish as the machine itself.
No way to clean under the bed or low furniture.
Rob
 
Hi Kevin.

Here is one of those mystery tools introduced at the start of the model XXX's long run. Clearly it was designed to be a suction regulator that fit either on the handle of the hose, or the end of the wand (users option). The mystery here is, was it standard issue, or a flash in the pan? The same concept would turn up years later as part of the hose handle, but not only on Electrolux machines but almost every brand, and is still used today. Again, I'll defer to Charles Richard Lester, perhaps he knows the answer. 

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Hi Kevin.

As far as I know the 'Garment Aire Bag' was an Electrolux exclusive. It's shown here and on the next post, and was part of the optional equipment that began with the model XXX, but the exact year is not known. (Help me out here Charles). What I do know is that it was part of the 1948 version, as was the cord winder, Companion and a host of other new products which I'll post patent info on later.


 


 

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